CONCORD, N.C. – The sudden and tragic passing of Kyle Busch on Thursday shocked and saddened the NASCAR and racing communities.
That was true on the campus of Hendrick Motorsports as well, where Busch got his start in NASCAR. He was with the organization from 2003-2007, winning four NASCAR Cup Series and 11 O’Reilly Series races.
Busch would go on to become a two-time series champion with 63 Cup wins and 234 total victories across NASCAR’s three national series.
He was 41 years old. Busch is survived by, among others, wife Samantha, son Brexton, daughter Lennix, and brother and NASCAR Hall of Famer, Kurt Busch.
On Thursday evening, Hendrick Motorsports owner, Rick Hendrick, issued the following statement:
“This is an incredibly painful shock for all of us and a heartbreaking loss for the NASCAR family,” said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports, in a statement. “Kyle was one of the most talented drivers I’ve ever seen and a racer in the truest sense of the word. He had a fire and competitive spirit that drove him to be great. I watched Kyle grow up in this sport and valued the friendship we shared long after he drove for our organization.
“As much as he loved to drive a race car, nothing brought him more joy than being a husband, a father and watching his son race. On behalf of everyone at Hendrick Motorsports, our hearts are with Samantha, Brexton, Lennix, Kurt and the Busch family.”
Hendrick Motorsports vice chairman Jeff Gordon was a Cup Series teammate of Busch’s from 2005-2007 and spent several years competing against him.
“This is a devastating loss and one that is hard for the NASCAR community to process. Kyle was a fierce competitor who demanded the very best from himself each time he put on the helmet. As teammates, I saw firsthand the passion and intensity he brought to the sport every single day. He was a champion and prolific racer who made a tremendous impact on NASCAR and was a lifelong advocate for all forms of motor sports.
“But beyond the track, he loved his family deeply and was incredibly proud of Samantha, Brexton and Lennix. My thoughts are with the entire Busch family during this extremely difficult time.”
On Thursday evening, NASCAR, the Busch family and Richard Childress Racing released the following joint statement:
“Our entire NASCAR family is heartbroken by the loss of Kyle Busch. A future Hall of Famer, Kyle was a rare talent, one who comes along once in a generation. He was fierce, he was passionate, he was immensely skilled and he cared deeply about the sport and fans. Throughout a career that spanned more than two decades, Kyle set records in national series wins, won championships at NASCAR’s highest level and fostered the next generation of drivers as an owner in the Truck Series. His sharp wit and competitive spirit sparked a deep emotional connection with race fans of every age, creating the proud and loyal ‘Rowdy Nation.’ Our thoughts are with Samantha, Brexton and Lennix, Kyle and Samantha’s parents, Kurt and all of Kyle’s family, Richard and Judy Childress, everyone at Richard Childress Racing, his teammates, friends and fans. NASCAR lost a giant of the sport today, far too soon.”
In light of the tragic news, Hendrick Motorsports has canceled its Fan Fest scheduled for Friday. The team’s campus and store will remain open over the Charlotte Motor Speedway race weekend.
